Click to enlarge! 
Tuesday 2 August 2011
Monday 1 August 2011
Challenge Summary & Statistics :-)
A few statistics on this challenge for the geeky among you…
Total swings completed: 31,350
Total number of kettlebell swing sessions: 40
Total amount of training time invested: Just over 42 hours
Total calories expended: Approximately 26,000 kcal
Day by day history/summary
Day / # of sessions / Daily Total Swings / Cumulative Total Swings
Fri 1st / 2 / 1135 / 1135
Sat 2nd / 1 / 1020 / 2155
Sun 3rd – rest day
Mon 4th / 2 / 1405 / 3560
Tue 5th / 2 / 1300 / 4860
Wed 6th / 2 / 1600 / 6460
Thur 7th / 2 / 1100 / 7560
Fri 8th / 1 / 1140 / 8700
Sat 9th / 1 / 1400 / 10100
Sun 10th – rest day
Mon 11th / 2 / 1100 / 11200
Tue 12th / 2 / 1400 / 12600
Wed 13th / 2 / 1400 / 14000
Thur 14th / 2 / 1510 / 15510
Fri 15th / 1 / 1000 / 16510
Sat 16th / 1 / 1490 / 18000
Sun 17th – rest day
Mon 18th / 2 / 1260 / 19260
Tue 19th / 2 / 1200 / 20460
Wed 20th / 2 / 1400 / 21860
Thur 21st / 1 / 1140 / 23000
Fri 22nd / 2 / 1200 / 24200
Sat 23rd / 1 / 1000 / 25200 (Target beaten!)
Sun 24th – rest day
Mon 25th / 1 / 1000 / 26200
Tue 26th / 2 / 1000 / 27200
Wed 27th / 1 / 1000 / 28200
Thur 28th / 2 / 1100 / 29300
Fri 29th – rest day
Sat 30th / 1 / 2050 / 31350 (Finished!)
Sun 31st – rest day
Swings by week (from Fri to Fri):
Week 1 - 7560
Week 2 – 7950
Week 3 – 7490
Week 4 - 8350 (including final Saturday)
Average swings per day (over the 31 days of July): 1011
Amount of skin removed off hands:
Greater than mass of entire Solar System (approx. 3.2342 * 10 ^ 2666993424 grams)
Pain induced: Infinite
Sunday 31 July 2011
Day 30 – Session #40 – FINAL session!
Time: 1745
Duration: ~1 hr 52 mins
Fatigue status: OK
Hand condition: OK
Swings completed: 2050 (!)
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
80 / 80 / 80 / 80 / 80 / 80 / 80 / 80
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
50 / 50 / 50 / 150
Summary:
Saturday 30th. One last massive effort. The big grind multi-set of 80 swings at a time with around 60 seconds rest between sets was very tough indeed. Was determined to take overall total past 31,000 meaning an average in excess of 1,000 per day!
Finished with a huge set of 150 swings to really see what I had left.
Cumulative FINAL total swings completed: 31350
Saturday 30 July 2011
Day 28 – Session #39
Time: 2100
Duration: ~30 mins
Fatigue status: OK
Hand condition: OK
Swings completed: 600
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 80
Summary:
A fast and efficient session, another 600 repped out.
Cumulative total swings completed: 29300
Thursday 28 July 2011
Day 28 – Session #38
Time: 0800
Duration: ~30 mins
Fatigue status: OK
Hand condition: OK
Swings completed: 500
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 60
Summary:
Sleepy early morning, but plodded out a further 500 swings.
Cumulative total swings completed: 28700
Wednesday 27 July 2011
Day 27 – Session #37
Time: 2035
Duration: ~53 mins
Fatigue status: Good
Hand condition: Good
Swings completed: 1000
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
100 / 50 / 50
50 / 50 / 60 / 40
Summary:
Very Zen like session, by far fastest time I’ve managed to rep out 1000 swings. I’ve become much more economical with them, and finding my grip strength has massively improved since start of challenge…
Cumulative total swings completed: 28200
Day 26 – Session #36
Time: 1815
Duration: ~42 mins
Fatigue status: OK
Hand condition: Good
Swings completed: 600
Workout (click to view data):
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
Summary:
Another steady set of 600.
Cumulative total swings completed: 27200
Duration: ~42 mins
Fatigue status: OK
Hand condition: Good
Swings completed: 600
Workout (click to view data):
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
Summary:
Another steady set of 600.
Cumulative total swings completed: 27200
Day 26 – Session #35
Time: 0800
Duration: ~18 mins
Fatigue status: Good
Hand condition: Good
Swings completed: 400
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 80
Summary:
Condensed and very quick set of 400; pushed for time so really went for it.
Cumulative total swings completed: 26600
Day 25 – Session #34
Time: 2025
Duration: ~1 hour
Fatigue status: Good
Hand condition: Good
Swings completed: 1000
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
Summary:
Another solid and fast 1000 swings.
Cumulative total swings completed: 26200
Saturday 23 July 2011
Day 23 – Session #33 – TARGET BEATEN!
Time: 1105
Duration: ~1 hour 11 minutes
Fatigue status: Reasonably good
Hand condition: Slightly sore
Swings completed: 1000
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 70 / 10
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
Summary:
I have beaten the 25K target!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ground them out, another 1000 to take me over 25,000. I will keep going now for remainder of month and see what I can get up to!
Cumulative total swings completed: 25200
Friday 22 July 2011
Day 22 – Session #32
Time: 2055
Duration: ~37 minutes
Fatigue status: OK
Hand condition: OK
Swings completed: 600
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
Summary:
Bit tired/hungry, but another 600 swings steadily repped out. Only 800 swings away from the 25K target!
Feel pretty adapted to this volume of daily swings now; however, calves and hamstrings are fatigued, as is the musculature on the centre of my upper back around the rhomboids (and to lesser extent, my latissimus dorsi).
Cumulative total swings completed: 24200
Day 22 – Session #31
Time: 0800
Duration: ~43 minutes
Fatigue status: OK
Hand condition: Good
Swings completed: 600
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
Summary:
Bit sleepy/tired with early morning and training session late last night, but OK.
Cumulative total swings completed: 23600
Thursday 21 July 2011
Day 21 – Session #30
Time: 2030
Duration: ~1hr 9 minutes
Fatigue status: OK
Hand condition: Good
Swings completed: 1140
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
100 / 50 / 50
50 / 50 / 40
Summary:
Felt very tired to start off with due to a poor night’s sleep, but eventually got into a good zone and drilled them out to hit 1140 – taking me to exactly 23,000 swings. Only 2K to go towards target!
Cumulative total swings completed: 23000
Day 20 – Session #29
Time: 2000
Duration: ~41 minutes
Fatigue status: OK
Hand condition: OK
Swings completed: 600
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
Summary:
2nd session of the day, felt OK, bit tired. Pizza as a treat tonight!
Cumulative total swings completed: 21860
Day 20 – Session #28
Time: 1500
Duration: ~1 hour
Fatigue status: Good
Hand condition: Good
Swings completed: 800
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
Summary:
Everything felt good, even hands feel pretty good this week – so far…
Cumulative total swings completed: 21260
Tuesday 19 July 2011
Day 19 – Session #27
Time: 1905
Duration: ~45 minutes
Fatigue status: OK
Hand condition: OK
Swings completed: 600
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
Summary:
A reasonable slog away – felt OK, another 600 completed for a consistent day.
Passed the 20K mark!
Cumulative total swings completed: 20460
Day 19 – Session #26
Time: 0810
Duration: ~43 minutes
Fatigue status: OK
Hand condition: OK
Swings completed: 600
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
Summary:
A sleepy early morning session, was hard work…
Cumulative total swings completed: 19860
Monday 18 July 2011
Day 18 – Session #25
Time: 2020
Duration: ~34 minutes
Fatigue status: Good
Hand condition: Good
Swings completed: 660
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
60
Summary:
Short and intense – excellent session. Hands still feeling good, managed to file off all the callouses with them having a healed a good amount from Saturday afternoon to Monday lunchtime, so a much more pleasant experience.
Cumulative total swings completed: 19260
Day 18 – Session #24
Time: 1130
Duration: ~37 minutes
Fatigue status: Excellent
Hand condition: Good
Swings completed: 600
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
Summary:
A good start to this third week. Well rested and fresh again, hands feel good again too – for now!
Cumulative total swings completed: 18600
Saturday 16 July 2011
Day 16 – Session #23
Time: 1135
Duration: ~1hr47 minutes
Fatigue status: OK
Hand condition: Painful to start, but not too bad
Swings completed: 1490
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
30 / 30 / 30
Summary:
A big closing session to the week to take me all the way up to 18,000 swings! First 800 weren’t too bad, remainder were a grind…
The charting of pain (!):
Cumulative total swings completed: 18000
Friday 15 July 2011
Day 15 – Session #22
Time: 1625
Duration: ~1hr18 minutes
Fatigue status: Very tired
Hand condition: Very sore
Swings completed: 1000
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
Summary:
Very tired and sore, but struggled my way to 1000. Seriously looking forward to a rest day now!
Cumulative total swings completed: 16510
Day 14 – Session #21
Time: 1920
Duration: ~1hr13 minutes
Fatigue status: Very tired
Hand condition: Very sore
Swings completed: 860
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
20/ 20 / 20
Summary:
Tired and sore, but managed to grind out another 800 plus for another solid day.
Cumulative total swings completed: 15510
Thursday 14 July 2011
Day 14 – Session #20
Time: 0800
Duration: ~50 minutes
Fatigue status: Very tired
Hand condition: Very sore
Swings completed: 650
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
30 / 20
Summary:
The morning sessions in particular are very tough. Sore and stiff this morning, and hands were very uncomfortable (they’re not so bad by the evening…). Nevertheless, ground out another 650. Will have snooze this afternoon to recover since I have a gap in my day!
Cumulative total swings completed: 14650
Wednesday 13 July 2011
Day 13 – Session #19
Time: 2010
Duration: ~1hr3 minutes
Fatigue status: Tired
Hand condition: Very sore
Swings completed: 900
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
50 / 50
Summary:
A tough one psychologically for majority of it, but one past 600 got into a “zen mode” and powered out another 300 swings to take my grand total to the 14000 mark. Got individual callouses on each finger now, which means the skin has toughened up, but the weight continually pressing against them makes them pretty sore.
Cumulative total swings completed: 14000
Day 13 – Session #18
Time: 1815
Duration: ~30 minutes
Fatigue status: Tired
Hand condition: Sore
Swings completed: 500
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 20
Summary:
Quick session in gap I had during evening. Managed to rep out 500 in the time I had, which was good.
Cumulative total swings completed: 13100
Tuesday 12 July 2011
Day 12 – Session #17
Time: 2030
Duration: ~47 minutes
Fatigue status: Bit tired
Hand condition: Sore
Swings completed: 800
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
Summary:
A session to prove the maxim that make a plan, and stick to it. Often when exercising it is the case that you might feel sore, tired, demotivated, or bits of your body might be complaining a bit; however, working through this usually pays huge dividends*.
Shoulders felt a bit sore and energy was a bit flat earlier this evening; by end of this session energy levels felt great walking home and shoulders had really loosened up and feel nicely restored. In other words: sometimes your body likes to “lie” to you. Don’t take it at face value; sometimes you can feel poor and end up having a great training session, other times you can feel great but end up having a disappointing training session… The point is to be consistent, regardless – this is the single most important thing.
Oh, and milestone hit – passed the half way mark towards 25,000!
Cumulative total swings completed: 12600
* Needless to say, apply common sense. If something in your body feels really wrong, or injured, then rest it/get it sorted; don’t make it worse. As a very general rule, muscular soreness is never a reason not to exercise (theoretically); on the other hand, if it is (say) unusual sharp joint pain, then definitely get the issue addressed or rest it, etc…
Day 12 – Session #16
Time: 0805
Duration: ~41 minutes
Fatigue status: Bit tired
Hand condition: Sore
Swings completed: 600
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 60 / 20
Summary:
Was a bit of a tough session psychologically; gym was very quiet and felt a bit tired this early in morning… Still, managed the intended 600 swings.
Shoulders are a bit sore, but not too bad.
Cumulative total swings completed: 11800
Monday 11 July 2011
Kettlebell videos!
Some recent videos of me working with kettlebells. 
Here is what my 25K swing challenge consists of – 25,000 of these – well, here are 70 of them, in any case!
70 single arm swings, 24kg
Some double kettlebell drills with a pair of 16kg bells:
Clean & press, 2 x 16kg
Swing/snatch/squat complex, 2 x 16kg
Day 11 – Session #15
Time: 2055
Duration: ~35 minutes
Fatigue status: OK
Hand condition: OK
Swings completed: 600
40 / 70 / 40 / 40
50 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
Summary:
Didn’t eat enough earlier on, so very hungry by the time I started this session, but managed 600 - so closed out another solid day. Forget to bring my heart rate chest strap with me to the gym this evening, so no heart rate data on Movescount from my Suunto t6d.
Cumulative total swings completed: 11200
Day 11 – Session #14
Time: 1240
Duration: ~35 minutes
Fatigue status: Excellent
Hand condition: OK
Swings completed: 500
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 60
Summary:
Felt excellent after around 11 hours sleep yesterday, and skin on hands was considerably less sore today too.
Cumulative total swings completed: 10600
Sunday 10 July 2011
Day 9 – Session #13
Time: 1600
Duration: ~1hr40 minutes
Fatigue status: Tired
Hand condition: Sore
Swings completed: 1400
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
50 / 50 / 50 / 30 / 20
Summary:
Extremely tired in the morning, but fortunately perked up during the afternoon and drove on towards 1400 swings in total – biggest individual session I’ve ever done thus far. Over 1000 calories burnt in this session…
Cumulative total swings completed: 10100
Day 10 – Sunday 10th
Rest day! Much needed!
Cumulative total swings completed: 10100
Friday 8 July 2011
Day 8 – Session #12
Time: 1420
Duration: ~1hr30 minutes
Fatigue status: Somewhat tired
Hand condition: Slightly sore
Swings completed: 1140
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
50 / 50 / 60 / 40
50 / 50 / 50 / 50
50 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 50 / 40 / 40 / 20
20 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 20
20 / 20
Summary:
Fairly tired but managed to keep sticking at it to grind out another 1000+ swings. With no clients to train later on today, I wanted to get all the swings for the day done and dusted so could relax for the rest of Friday afternoon/evening.
Looking back over my workout data, from just slightly less than a week ago, in a much fresher state, I nevertheless took 10 minutes longer to do 100 less swings and had higher overall heart rates – in other words I’ve got stronger and fitter at the swings even over the course of the last week.
Cumulative total swings completed: 8700
Thursday 7 July 2011
Day 7 – Session #11
Time: 2115
Duration: ~28 minutes
Fatigue status: Good
Hand condition: Sore, but not as bad
Swings completed: 500
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
100
Summary:
Felt really good but gym closes at 10PM so only had time for a short blast. Would have got another 200-300 completed otherwise. Practically soaking my hands in a combination of Bepanthen cream and Burt’s Bees Hand Salve this afternoon helped a lot!
Cumulative total swings completed: 7560
Day 7 – Session #10
Time: 1225
Duration: ~41 minutes
Fatigue status: Tired
Hand condition: Sore
Swings completed: 600
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
50 / 50 / 50 / 50
50 / 50 / 30 / 30 / 20
20
Summary:
Tired but ground out another 600 swings. Trapezius and shoulder rotator muscles a bit sore today, but struggled on.
Cumulative total swings completed: 7060
Wednesday 6 July 2011
Day 6 – Session #9
Time: 1815
Duration: ~1hr12 minutes
Fatigue status: OK
Hand condition: Sore
Swings completed: 1000
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
80 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 60 / 20 / 40 / 40
Summary:
First half pretty tough, but got into it and really happy to pack in another 1000 in good time.
Cumulative total swings completed: 6460
Day 6 – Session #8
Time: 1420
Duration: ~45 minutes
Fatigue status: Tired
Hand condition: Sore
Swings completed: 600
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
80 / 40 / 40 / 40
50 / 50 / 40 / 30 / 30
Summary:
Lethargic session in mid afternoon but nevertheless ploughed on to 600.
Cumulative total swings completed: 5460
Tuesday 5 July 2011
Day 5 – Session #7
Time: 2115
Duration: ~32 minutes
Fatigue status: OK
Hand condition: Sore, but not too bad
Swings completed: 500
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
100 / 50 / 50
20 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 20
Summary:
Short session right at end of day just before gym closed. Pleased with quantity achieved in time and hands weren’t too bad, considering.
Cumulative total swings completed: 4860
Day 5 – Session #6
Time: 0800
Duration: ~55 minutes
Fatigue status: Good
Hand condition: Sore/more blistering
Swings completed: 800
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
100 / 50 / 50
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
Summary:
Early morning session, was a tough slog, but another solid 800 completed. More skin coming off hands, plenty of taping! Nearing 5K mark and 25% towards target!
Cumulative total swings completed: 4360
Monday 4 July 2011
Day 4 – Session #5
Time: 1800
Duration: ~45 minutes
Fatigue status: Good
Hand condition: Slightly sore
Swings completed: 605
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
5
Summary:
2nd session of the day, still felt pretty good, and pleased with quantity in time.
Cumulative total swings completed: 3560
Day 4 – Session #4
Time: 1240
Duration: ~1h5 minutes
Fatigue status: Excellent
Hand condition: Slightly sore
Swings completed: 800
Workout (click to view data):
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
90 / 60 / 50
Summary:
Felt excellent, very strong today. Will do another session this evening. Hands not too bad, sore but manageable – keep taping up any sore spots with the climbing tape. Nearly at the 3k mark, which means I’ve passed 10% complete
Cumulative total swings completed: 2955
Duration: ~1h5 minutes
Fatigue status: Excellent
Hand condition: Slightly sore
Swings completed: 800
Workout (click to view data):
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
90 / 60 / 50
Summary:
Felt excellent, very strong today. Will do another session this evening. Hands not too bad, sore but manageable – keep taping up any sore spots with the climbing tape. Nearly at the 3k mark, which means I’ve passed 10% complete
Cumulative total swings completed: 2955
Day 3 – Sunday 3rd of July
Rest day! Certainly needed it. Hamstrings and upper trapezius have slight residual soreness, and interestingly so do my calf muscles. Skin on hands is recovering.
Swings completed: 0
Cumulative total swings completed: 2155
Saturday 2 July 2011
Day 2 – Session #3
Time: 1450
Duration: ~1hr35 minutes
Fatigue status: OK
Hand condition: Very sore
Swings completed: 1020
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
50 / 40 / 40 / 30 / 30
30
Summary:
Hamstrings slightly stiff to start with, but otherwise fine. Hands, however, very seriously suffering – was having to make extensive use of some Lyon Finger Tape (tape used by climbers) bought from Nevisport in Newcastle to keep taping over the various bits of skin slowly getting blistered away. Grip strength still good though. Nevertheless, keep going on! Rest day tomorrow!
Cumulative total swings completed: 2155
Friday 1 July 2011
Day 1 – Session #2
Time: 2010
Duration: ~50 minutes
Fatigue status: Somewhat fatigued
Hand condition: Sore
Swings completed: 535
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 45 / 50
20 / 20 / 40 / 20 / 20
Summary:
Muscles felt fine, but hands definitely starting to feel it now! Looking after the skin on my hands is perhaps going to be one of the biggest aspects of this challenge…
As you can see, I’m already getting some aggravation of callouses on my hand and fingers.
Cumulative total swings completed: 1135
Day 1 – Session #1
Time: 1600
Duration: ~55 minutes
Fatigue status: Completely fresh/rested
Hand condition: Good
Swings completed: 600
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
Summary:
Felt excellent, no problems at all – though can feel skin on my hands just starting to suffer a bit already!
Cumulative total swings completed: 600
Day 1 – July 1st. A few basics explained…
So, to start this challenge. This is what I will be swinging a total of 25,000 times, single arm, this month:
It’s a competition grade steel kettlebell weighing 24kg.
There are ample resources online detailing the history of kettlebells (which is long; they date back over 300 years in Russia), benefits of kettlebell training, and some of the many exercises possible; however, the kettlebell swing (either with both hands or one hand) is the most fundamental of all movements with a kettlebell, and still the “keystone” exercise. This one movement, in itself, executed properly, is a very complete all-body exercise. Performed in volume, it also presents a considerable challenge. Here’s what it looks like “in hand”:
Size comparison against my cast iron 8kg kettlebell:
I will log my workouts in something like the following fashion:
40 / 40 / 40 / 40
This lists 4 sets of 40 swings. I generally rest for anywhere between 30 seconds to a couple of minutes between sets when performing swings with this weight. I alternate arm seamlessly every ten swings – so a sets of 40 swings in the above example actually translates to something like this:
10 (left arm) – 10 (right arm) – 10 (left arm) – 10 (right arm) – rest
Videos to follow!
My strategy is to divide the workload into two or three sessions per day – so typically a morning workout of 500 swings and an evening workout of 500 swings. This allows me some time to recover and is slightly less taxing that one drawn out session. I intend to try to do 1000 (or more) swings per day six days a week, with Sunday’s as my rest day. This way, I should hopefully have passed the 24,000 mark with still a few days left of July to finish off the challenge.
--
I am doing this as a personal challenge (I expect it to become very difficult as I gradually fatigue as the month goes on..!) and to raise money for the The European Nature Trust, whose various charitable activities are described on their website. If you like the idea, feel free to donate by clicking on the widget on the right hand side of this page! It would be great if I could hit at least £500 over the course of the month! Thanks in advance!
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